Long-Term Compressive Strength of Polymer Concrete-like Composites with Various Fillers.

Joanna Julia Sokołowska

doi:10.3390/ma13051207

Abstract

The durability of building composites with polymer matrix, such as polymer concretes, is considered high or excellent. However, very few studies are available that show the properties of such composites tested long after the specimens’ preparation, especially composites with fillers other than traditional rock aggregates. The paper presents the long-term compressive strength of polymer concrete containing common and alternative fine fillers, including quartz powder (ground sand) and by-products of the combustion of Polish fossil fuels (coal and lignite), tested nine or 9.5 years after preparation. The results were compiled with the data for respective specimens tested after 14 days, as well as 1.5 and 7 years. Data analysis confirmed the excellent durability of concrete-like composites with various fillers in terms of compressive strength. Density measurements of selected composites showed that the increase in strength was accompanied by an increase in volumetric density. This showed that the opinion that the development of the strength of composites with polymer matrices taking place within a few to several days was not always justified. In the case of a group of tested concrete-like composites with vinyl-ester matrices saturated with fly ashes of various origins, there was a further significant increase in strength over time.

Highlights

Polymer concrete-like composites are similar to ordinary concretes, but with completely cement-free polymer matrices or matrices of two co-binders, i.e., mineral cement and a significant amount of polymer
The high or excellent durability of these composites is mainly the consequence of the presence of a significant amount of polymer, which allows obtaining tighter matrices. Such matrices are more resistant to external environmental onslaughts, including destructive chemical processes [5,6,7,8], as well as physical processes [2,9,10,11]
The following conclusions emerged from the investigations of the long-term compressive strength of vinyl-ester concretes with various microfillers: 1

Summary

Introduction

Polymer concrete-like composites are similar to ordinary concretes, but with completely cement-free polymer matrices or matrices of two co-binders, i.e., mineral cement and a significant amount of polymer. The high or excellent durability of these composites is mainly the consequence of the presence of a significant amount of polymer, which allows obtaining tighter matrices. Such matrices are more resistant to external environmental onslaughts, including destructive chemical processes (acid and alkaline corrosion, leaching of soluble compounds, etc.) [5,6,7,8], as well as physical processes (freezing and thawing of penetrating water, thermal shock or, in the case of PCC, destruction resulting from increasing the volume of crystallization products, etc.) [2,9,10,11]. Forquantitative vinyl-ester concretes with as fly discussed ashes originating from hard combustion (in qualitative and composition) in the article citedcoal in the

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Results

Conclusion